A new auditor at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) was recently appointed about five months after running a wanted ad. However, the appointment of the new SNUH head, for whom a wanted ad was published on the same day, is still in the dark.

SNUH is one of many national university hospitals (NUHs) in the rudderless situation. As the appointment of the heads of other NUHs is also delayed, criticisms are mounting that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is tying up the hands and feet of public medical institutions while loudly stressing the need to “strengthen essential public healthcare service.”

On Monday, SNUH announced that Park Kyeong-oh was appointed its new auditor. The delay seemed to be due to the postponed appointment of Education Minister Lee Ju-ho last month.

The education minister appoints the auditor of SNUH at the recommendation of its board of directors.

NUHs have not heard any news on other appointments involving the education minister. At SNUH, two candidates for the hospital’s top job -- Professors Park Jae-hyeon of the Anesthesiology Department and Cheong Seung-yong of the Surgery Department – have been waiting for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s decision for four months. Kim Yeon-su, whose term in office expired this past May, has been serving as the SNUH’s director for more than six months past his term.

The situation is largely similar in other hospitals.

For example, in March, Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH) elected the candidate for a new director on its board of directors. However, the appointment has yet to be made, and a deputy director has been acting as its director for eight months.

Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH) and Jeju National University Hospital (JNUH) have even been unable to run a wanted ad for their directors, with the heads of the medical office acting as directors.

As the appointment of NUH directors keeps being delayed, internal disgruntlement has accumulated. The acting director system cannot ensure stable operation, making it difficult to clean up the inside. In addition, there are rumors that President Yoon has rejected the two candidates for the SNUH director, and the school’s board will have to select a new candidate.

“We are most anxious to know about the director’s appointment. It’s frustrating,” said a hospital official in a telephone interview with Korea Biomedical Review.

The official commented on the rumor that President Yoon dislikes both candidates, saying, “It is true such a story once circulated, but we cannot verify it is true or false. Everything is in a fog.”

He added that only one thing is certain; the President has yet to make up his mind.

“Only after the result come out regarding the appointment of new director can the hospital stabilize its atmosphere and normalize management,” the official said. “We hope a conclusion will be made before this year passes so that there is no disruption in the hospital’s operation and its project to enhance public healthcare.”

Another official said, “The President reportedly has no interest in appointing NUH heads. If the appointment of hospital director is delayed, it will cause problems not only in hospital operation but in implementing the government’s health and medical policy.”

The official said, “In short, the President has no interest in appointing NUH directors. He does not seem to prioritize the issue. Otherwise, there are no reasons to postpone the decision for so long. If the President judged both candidates were not good, he should have taken follow-up steps immediately. However, the chief executive is not doing even that.”

Noting that both existing and new projects have stalled at SNUH until a new director comes, the official said, “Other NUHs are having similar problems. Hospitals do not run on their own. When NUHs’ hands and feet are tied up, who will provide public healthcare service and discuss health and medical policy?”